2001 NZART Guide to The Internet and Amateur Radio

Attention is drawn to your country's Radio Regulations and in particular to any requirements set by your administration concerning the message content and traffic between radio amateurs.

All amateurs must observe the regulatory requirements and are asked to observe the following standards carefully to maintain traditional freedom from further regulation.

Amateur radio is about access to and the use of, the Radio Frequency Spectrum. A dependence on internet-based relay capabilities to facilitate all digimode communications in any geographical area should be avoided.

The internet

As a resource: You are encouraged to use the internet to exchange ideas and to spread amateur radio information, including to prospective radio amateurs and to prospective members of your society.

For linking amateur radio stations: A tunnel or wormhole is a two-way amateur- station to amateur-station link using a third party transmission medium such as the internet between amateur stations. No opportunity is provided for the general public, unlicensed persons, to receive or to observe the traffic as it passes though the tunnel. The internet/amateur radio interface connections must use appropriate control techniques to prevent access to amateur station transmitters by unlicensed persons.

Promoting amateur radio: A port-hole is a one-way amateur-to-internet link that allows the general public, unlicensed persons, to receive and to observe amateur radio activities without being able to actively participate in transmitting. Unlicensed persons can receive amateur radio information, information for prospective radio amateurs and for prospective members of your society.

Unattended operation: Where permitted by national regulations, unattended operation should be kept to tunnel or wormhole stations and to port-hole stations, and not extended to gateway stations.

Gateways: A gateway is a two-way amateur-to-internet link station that permits controlled communications between amateurs on amateur radio frequencies with non-amateurs on the internet. A gateway must be manually controlled by a licensed operator to ensure that the content transmitted on air conforms to international regulations.

Disseminating information from the internet: Information transferred to amateur radio networks from internet sources must be traceable to a licensed operator at the internet/amateur radio interface where the information first entered the amateur networks.

In all these cases

If material is transferred from a public telephone-based network, or a public data network such as the internet, the person bringing the material into the amateur network shall do so under that person's amateur radio callsign as sender. The source of the material must be mentioned, for example, from the internet.

There must be no opportunity or possibility for unlicensed persons to gain unauthorised access to amateur radio networks or to operate amateur radio apparatus or amateur radio stations.

Any automatic interface system must include a means to ensure these guidelines are observed.

Connecting to land-lines

Any connection made between an amateur station and a land-line, whether it be telephone, internet, or similar, is a matter between the owner/operator of the amateur station and the 'telephone company' or the 'network provider'.

This includes the connecting of computers involved in amateur radio tasks to the line.

This includes the type approval (if needed) of phone-patch equipment, modem etc.

This includes the rental and any other charges for the line.

These arrangements are well established and known. The details can be obtained from the telephone company or the network provider.

Traffic

The traffic that may be passed through amateur bands in the radio frequency spectrum in and out of your amateur radio station must comply with the International Radio Regulations, your local Radio Regulations, and any other requirements stipulated by your local administration. This includes observing all your country's restrictions or other requirements for handling third-party traffic.

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